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Preservation of Apples

Red_Apple.jpg

Broad Question

What provides the best preservation for apples?

Specific Question

Which material provides the best preservation for cut apples when wrapped and left on the counter?(saran wrap, aluminum foil, or wax paper)

Variables

Independent Variable:

Material around the apple

Dependent Variable:

amount of time the apples are left out

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:


Where the apples are located

Hypothesis

I hypothesis that saran wrap will preserve the apples the best.

Graph of Hypothesis



hypotinus_graphjpg.JPG

General Plan



Experimental Design


I am going to conduct my experiment at my house in the kitchen. I am going to cut the apples in half and leave them on the counter in while wrapped in the different materials. There are going to be 3 half apples for each different material, so I need to buy 5 apples in the from the store. On the 5th day, unwrap every apple record the final state of each, 1 being the best preserved, 5 being the most rotten. Write down the info in the correct materials placement on the data table and then average out the numbers for each material. Then I will graph that final number for each different material.Then the experiment will be done.

Materials list

1. 5 mackintosh apples
2.Saran wrap
3. Aluminum foil
4.Wax paper
6. a knife (to cut the apples in half)
7.a flat surface located in room temperature.
8. Data table

Procedure

1. Buy 5 mackintosh apples.
2. Cut each in half until you have 9 halves. You will have 1 half left over.
3. take 3 of the half apples and wrap them in saran wrap.
4. take another 3 half apples and wrap them in wax paper.
5. take another 3 apples and wrap them in Aluminum foil.
6. set the apples down in a room temperature area on a flat surface and leave them for 5 days.
7. After 5 days, check each apple's state, rating 5 being the most rotten and 1 being the least.
8. do this for each apple and then average out the 3 different numbers for each different material.
9. record the data on a spread sheet.


Background Research

  • Bruising will make the apples age faster and become really spoiled.
  • Dehydration and sun drying are a good way to preserve food for a long time.
  • Storing apples in a cool dark sport will prevent spoilage.
  • A cardboard box with the newspaper wrapped apples will help preserve them by preventing air circulation.
  • Wrapping up food tighter with less air getting to the food prevents the tiny bacteria from getting to the food.


References



Results

The purpose of my experiment was too figure out what material protects apples from rotting the most. This could help people at home that maybe want to preserve apples for a longer period of time. My results were that saran wrap, as i had hypothesizes, protected the apples the most. The second most protective was the tinfoil. The last most protective was the wax paper.

Data Table


 Degree of Spoilage
saran wrap Average
1.6
T1
 2
T2
 2
T3
 1
wax paper Average
2.6
T1
 3
T2
 3
T3
 2
tin foil Average
 2.1
T1
 2
T2
 2.5
T3
 2

hgcjhzdhkfgASDUIrfgauioGADf.JPG

Photos


download2.jpg


Conclusion


The propose of this experiment was to see which material protected an apple from rotting the most. I wanted to so this so I could understand which material would be best to use when wrapping up leftover food. After conducting three trials of each different material over a 5 day period, I have come to the conclusion that saran wrap works best in keeping air out from under the wrap so that the apple stayed most good to eat. The second best protecting material was the tin foil. And last but not least, the wax paper.